Atlassian Williams F1 Team has announced today that Williams F1 Team Driver Academy graduate Victor Martins is stepping into a new role as the team's Test and Development Driver for 2026, alongside racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Alpine Endurance Team.
The French driver has many accolades, including Formula Renault Eurocup Champion in 2020, FIA Formula 3 Champion in 2022, and top rookie in his 2023 FIA Formula 2 season (across three F2 seasons, he secured multiple victories).
Martins joined the Academy at the start of 2025, and for the next step in his career, will graduate from that to his Test and Development Driver role at Williams alongside Oliver Turvey and Harrison Scott.
According to the team, Martins will now play a crucial role in advancing the team's development programmes to support F1 drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz ahead of an unprecedented change in the sport's technical regulations. After a stellar 2025 season that saw Williams finish fifth in the Constructors' Championship, all eyes are on how high the team can soar this year.
Martins's promotion may be a hint at what's to come for the team, as he's now one step closer to securing a seat in the main team. Albon and Sainz are both in a good position as of now, but as the F1 fans among you will already know, that can change over any given weekend.
"Williams is an iconic team with an incredible history and I’m excited to be part of the project to bring this team back to the front of the grid," Martins said today. "I’ve already had experience working with Alex and Carlos during race weekends, and I’m looking forward to continuing this work with the team in 2026. Thanks to James, Sven and everyone at Williams for the opportunity."
Sven Smeets, Sporting Director, Williams F1 Team, added, "We’re glad to welcome Victor into his new role as Test and Development Driver in 2026. He is a talented driver who has consistently given invaluable guidance and feedback to the team, improving our on-track performance and supporting Alex and Carlos throughout the 2025 season."
"His recent experience driving the FW47 in Barcelona FP1 and supporting the TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) programme gives him the real-world context to make real impact on the development of the FW48 and future car programmes," he concluded.
Under James Vowles' leadership, the future looks bright for Williams, and this latest addition to the team could have major consequences for this year and beyond.